World Affairs Council of Charleston

Distinguished speakers from government, academic organizations, and the business community present timely lectures on international events affecting our lives. For more information: www.waccharleston.org

Bruce Hoffman on Terrorism 04/06/2024

Bruce Hoffman on Terrorism One of the world's leading experts on terrorism and insurgency provides an insightful update on this global threat. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/30710118

Global Population: Myths & Misconceptions 03/09/2024

Global Population: Myths & Misconceptions One of the world's foremost experts in demographic trends explores the changing nature, shape, size and movement of global populations, one of the vital questions of our time. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/30303163

Crisis in the Red Sea 02/16/2024

Crisis in the Red Sea Recent attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea—launched by the Houthis in Yemen—are wreaking havoc on global trade. Drawing on his distinguished career with the State Dept., Al Thibault speaks about history, geography and geopolitical risk factors in a part of the world that has suddenly grabbed international attention. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/29989378

Threats to the democratic world order 12/15/2023

Threats to the democratic world order Michael Miklaucic, the editor of the National Defense University journal PRISM, shares thoughts on current national and international security threats and what to do about them. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/29103163

Why Africa Matters 09/24/2023

Why Africa Matters Christopher Day, professor of political science at the College of Charleston, a former relief worker with Doctors Without Border, and veteran observer of African politics, economy, and society offers his thoughts on this distinct and compelling region. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/28127402

The Future of Intelligence 05/17/2023

The Future of Intelligence Rolf Mowatt-Larssen challenges us with his fasten your seatbelts presentation on the complex issue of intelligence in which he discusses spies, nukes, emerging science and technology, climate change and fake news. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/26865063

Latin America: Challenges and Opportunities 02/28/2023

Latin America: Challenges and Opportunities Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne served as U.S. Ambassador to Argentina and as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs under three Secretaries of State, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, and Deputy Ambassador in Afghanistan. Ambassador Wayne is presently Distinguished Diplomat in Residence at American University in Washington, DC, and holds senior positions at the Wilson Center, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and the Atlantic Council. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/26083884

China 01/09/2023

China Charleston World Affairs Council member George Pope discusses what he considers China's two Achilles Heel issues--water and food. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/25549515

Turmoil in Iran 12/15/2022

Turmoil in Iran A young woman arrested for taking off her hijab (mandatory head covering for woman) dies in police custody. The backlash, especially women, has rattled religious leaders. In addition, Iran is supplying drones to Moscow for the war in Ukraine. Iran's nuclear program is moving ahead. U.S. and western sanctions have crippled the economy. Is Iran's regime in trouble. Charleston World affairs Council Program Chairman Al Thibault discusses challenges facing the No. 1 troublemaker in the Middle East. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/25338435

Alarm in Washington as China's Pacific Island Outreach Accelerates 11/16/2022

Alarm in Washington as China's Pacific Island Outreach Accelerates U. S. Institute of Peace analysts Brian Harding and Camilla Pohle-Anderson discuss Washington's concern over China's aggressive outreach into the Pacific Island region. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/25034913

Pakistan/Sri Lanka Update 10/05/2022

Pakistan/Sri Lanka Update World Affairs Council of Charleston member and retired senior diplomat Al Thibault discusses the always volatile and ever-changing situation in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/24592884

Russia/Ukraine: Update and Status 09/16/2022

Russia/Ukraine: Update and Status Retired senior US diplomat and World Affairs Council of Charleston member Jon Gundersen who has extensive experience working in Russia and Ukraine explains, updates, and offers 'indicators' to follow regarding the Russia/Ukraine war. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/24400500

Seeking Commonality in Rural Development Programs in Colombia and Mozambique 08/17/2022

Seeking Commonality in Rural Development Programs in Colombia and Mozambique Brian Norris, Professor of Political Science at Lincoln University of Missouri, discusses his recent Fulbright Future Scholars Grant wherein over three years he will study rural development programs in Colombia and Mozambique. Dr. Norris will also discuss his recent visit to Colombia where he monitored the presidential election and reviewed the current economic situation in light of some two million Venezuelan refugees now in Colombia. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/24069768

Ukraine/Russia Crisis-History, Current Status, and What Happens Now 04/20/2022

Ukraine/Russia Crisis-History, Current Status, and What Happens Now Retired senior US diplomats, Ambassador William Courtney (Moscow, Kazakhstan, and Georgia), and Jon Gundersen (Moscow, Ukraine, and Estonia) discuss the current Ukraine/Russia crisis--how it came about, where we stand now, and possible outcomes. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/22853357

North Korea: History, Status, Update 12/10/2021

North Korea: History, Status, Update Christian Curriden, Rand Corp Defense Analyst discusses how North Korea has moved from Pariah State to a major challenge. Are there any viable options other than crossed fingers and hopes for the best? /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/21447761

Immigration: Complex, confusing, complicated, controversial! 10/14/2021

Immigration: Complex, confusing, complicated, controversial! Immigration professional Gil Jacobs discusses current immigration issues--Afghanistan and Haitian refugees--in the light of US policy, politics, and the inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore." /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/20816615

Transitions: Lessons Learned; Lessons Applied 05/29/2021

Transitions: Lessons Learned; Lessons Applied Ambassador Christopher Goldthwait discusses 'lessons learned' during his Government career and how he is now 'applying' those lessons as an entrepreneur in the international private sector. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/19284350

Bitcoin for Beginners 05/12/2021

Bitcoin for Beginners World Affairs Council of Charleston member George Pope offers a primer on cyber currencies--Bitcoin for Beginners. Pope provides a basic overview on What are Bitcoins? Why is everyone so excited? Why should I care? /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/19083209

Rare Earth 101: A Primer 04/17/2021

Rare Earth 101: A Primer World Affairs Council of Charleston President George Pope discusses the emerging and frightening international issue of rare earth elements which are essential to virtually all electronic systems and devices, the emerging renewable energy sector, and most importantly, the US National Security industrial sector. And, as it turns out, the rare earth market is controlled by a country which is not a particular friend of the US. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/18760640

Strategies for International Development 02/25/2021

Strategies for International Development Strategies for International Development (SID) Executive Director Charles Patterson and Program Director Judith Russo discuss SID's innovative 'farmer to farmer' approach to economic development in Guatemala. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/18091025

India Farmers Revolt 02/13/2021

India Farmers Revolt World Affairs Council of Charleston resident South Asia expert Al Thibault discusses the farmer revolt in India. Initial protests by rice and wheat growers from northern India have now spread across the country while the federal government refuses to repeal recently passed ‘agricultural reform’ laws which impact nearly 15% of India's $2.9 trillion economy and about half its workforce. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/17938217

The Global Residential Real Estate Market and the Pandemic 01/28/2021

The Global Residential Real Estate Market and the Pandemic Ruthie Ravenel of Daniel Ravenel Sotheby's International Realty discusses the impact of the global Covid-19 Pandemic on local, national, and international residential real estate markets, and what 'indicators' real estate professionals will be following as we, emerge from the pandemic. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/17726405

The Pandemic: Coping with the Present: Preparing for the Future 01/10/2021

The Pandemic: Coping with the Present: Preparing for the Future J. Huggins, Executive VP and Regional President of United Bank, discusses how his 'regional' financial institution is coping with, and preparing for the end of, the Covid-19 Pandemic--a fascinating insight into how, in all likelihood, financial institutions around the world are dealing with the same issue. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/17486600

Bolivia: Socialist Government, Chinese Cash; What Next? 12/24/2020

Bolivia: Socialist Government, Chinese Cash; What Next? Dr. Brian Norris of Denison University discusses the impact of Bolivia's socialist Government and massive Chinese 'Belt and Road' investments on Bolivian relations with other Latin American countries, and with the the United States. Should we be worried? /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/17322770

Death and Taxes: Closing Out a Pandemic Year 12/10/2020

Death and Taxes: Closing Out a Pandemic Year The international world comes close to home as Tucker Morris of Morris Financial Concepts takes us through year-end considerations on taxes (positive news actually), portfolio management (rebalancing and taking tax losses as appropriate), and making sure our Estate Plan is up to date. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/17148458

The Emperor's New Road 11/23/2020

The Emperor's New Road Jonathan Hillman, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and director of the Reconnecting Asia Project, discusses his new book, The Emperor's New Road, which has been described as "the world's most ambitious and misunderstood geoeconomics vision." /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/16920260

Money Laundering 101 10/31/2020

Money Laundering 101 When money speaks, conscience stays silent. (Russian proverb) Peter Wild has spent a career in anti-money laundering efforts. In this conversation, he provides an introductory primer into this $2 trillion a year criminal enterprise. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/16629173

Here Comes China! 10/24/2020

Here Comes China! Dr. Melford A. Wilson, Distinguished Professor and Vice President of Winthrop University, discusses his forty years of traveling and working in China, all of which is covered in his new book 'Here Comes China.' /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/16530725

World War I in the Pacific 10/12/2020

World War I in the Pacific Dr. Bryan Ganaway, College of Charleston Honors College Associate Dean, continues his presentations on WW I and its impact on our lives today, one hundred years later. In this discussion, Dr. Ganaway discusses China, Japan, and how WW I signaled the beginning-of-the-end of colonialism in South Asia. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/16365830

Ambassador James Melville 10/01/2020

Ambassador James Melville James Melville served as US Ambassador to Estonia 2015-2018 and is now Associate Dean at the Language, Culture, World Affairs Department of The College of Charleston. In this podcast, Ambassador Melville discusses his Foreign Service career and the transition to Academia. /episode/index/show/charlestonworldaffairs/id/16226573

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